The Excerpt

USA TODAY Pentagon Correspondent Tom Vanden Brook takes a closer look at President Donald Trump's moves this week surrounding the National Guard and police in the nation's capital. An explosion at a steel plant in Pennsylvania left two people dead Monday. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations next month. USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise discusses government plans to drop a horde of flies over the Texas border. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel's military says it targeted and killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif. USA TODAY Health and Wellness Reporter Adrianna Rodriguez discusses the ongoing feud between medical groups and RFK Jr. The Trump administration is using hundreds of federal police officers to target crime in Washington, D.C. Plus, Trump says homeless people in Washington "have to move out, IMMEDIATELY." AOL will shutter its dial-up internet service. USA TODAY Deputy Wellness Editor David Oliver tells us about his experience at grief camp. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Valeriana is an ancient, lost city in Southern Mexico hidden under jungle canopy for centuries, recently discovered via a Google search. How did that happen you ask? Luke Auld-Thomas’ research on Mayan settlements had him poking around on the internet which led him to a LIDAR survey - a laser-based technology used in this case for terrain mapping. When he ran the data, he realized there was an entire city, of a significant size, entirely covered in dense vegetation. Could there be more of these ancient settlements, just a few clicks away, waiting to be found? Tulane doctoral student Luke Auld-Thomas joins The Excerpt to share how he stumbled into the discovery of a lifetime. (This episode originally aired on January 1, 2025.) Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode Transcript available here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet next week in Alaska to discuss an end to Russia's war on Ukraine. President Trump and the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement Friday at the White House. For The Win Staff Writer Meghan L. Hall tells us what's really going on with sex toys being thrown on court at WNBA games. The Department of Justice opens an investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James. Legendary astronaut Jim Lovell has died at 97. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier this week that Israel intended to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip. President Donald Trump nominates CEA Chair Stephen Miran to a temporary Federal Reserve board vacancy. USA TODAY First Amendment Reporting Fellow BrieAnna Frank breaks down Trump's recent religion memo for federal workers. The National Weather Service has taken steps to begin filling some of the positions left vacant by federal cutbacks. USA TODAY Senior Reporter Jessica Guynn tells us how shoppers are returning just about everything, taking advantage of stores' lax return policies. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. It's International Cat Day! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Squirmy and Grubs are not your typical YouTube stars. One is them is able-bodied. The other is not. How they navigate the challenges that dichotomy presents is the point. So is how normal their lives as an interabled couple really are. The story of Hannah and Shane Burcaws’ relationship and others like it is captured in their new book, "Interabled: True Stories about Love and Disability." They joined The Excerpt to talk about what they hope abled couples understand about interabled love. (This episode originally aired on January 22, 2025.) Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode Transcript available here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

New tariffs take effect on Thursday after a new tariff announcement from President Donald Trump penalizing India for importing Russian oil. Plus, Apple announces $100 billion in new U.S. investment. A U.S. Army sergeant is in custody after a shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page discusses the potential legacy of President Trump's new White House ballroom. USA TODAY Breaking News Reporter Karissa Waddick discusses how climate change is revealing archeological treasures. A new species of 'Jurassic sea monster' has been identified in an old fossil. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With climate change, the threat of wildfires, and human encroachment among other things, our trees and forests are in desperate need of guardians. From tropical rainforests, often referred to as the lungs of the planet, to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in California’s White Mountains, home to some of the oldest living organisms on earth, what is being done to protect our woodlands? Forester and author Ethan Tapper joins The Excerpt to share both his practical and philosophical perspectives outlined in his new book, "How to Love a Forest: The Bittersweet Work of Tending a Changing World." (This episode originally aired on February 9th, 2025.) Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. Episode Transcript available here See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer breaks down subpoenas issued by Republicans on the House Oversight Committee in their probe of the Jeffrey Epstein case. President Donald Trump says 2028 Olympic athletes will be tested to prevent transgender competitors in women's sports. USA TODAY National Correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry takes a look back at the Voting Rights Act on its 60th anniversary, and why some worry the law's protections are now at risk. A new Coast Guard report reveals who and what to blame for the 2023 Titan submersible implosion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening more than 50 Democrats with legal action and removal from the state legislature after lawmakers fled the state amid a heated redistricting battle. USA TODAY Congress Reporter Savannah Kuchar takes a look at some pivotal Senate races in next year's midterm elections. The Department of Homeland Security will require some foreign travelers to post a $15,000 bond before they can come to the United States. USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé talks about the gloomy forecast for stocks, and what to do about it. College football's preseason US LBM Coaches Poll is here. Who are some of the snubs? Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hamas says it will coordinate with the Red Cross to deliver aid to hostages it holds in Gaza, if Israel meets certain conditions. USA TODAY Consumer Health Reporter Ken Alltucker takes a look at the millions expected to lose their health insurance in the coming years. Plus, Ken explains why some in the public are confused about whether they're on Medicaid. Victims have been identified in the Friday Montana bar shooting, as authorities search for the suspect. The countdown is on ahead of next year's midterm elections. Here are some pivotal races. Plus, check out Friday's episode for more on how rural organizers are going after voters. USA TODAY National Correspondent Michael Collins talks about his trip north of the border, and how Canadians are making Old-Fashioneds without Kentucky bourbon amid tariff tensions. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Forget passive viewing. Audiences today want to step inside the story. From Super Nintendo World to Stranger Things pop-ups, immersive entertainment is on the rise. But what defines an “immersive” experience—and why is it suddenly everywhere? Noah Nelson, publisher of No Proscenium and co-founder of the Immersive Experience Institute, joins The Excerpt to explain how the pandemic accelerated demand, what designers are learning from escape rooms, and how new formats—from LARPs to “Monopoly Life-Size”—are reshaping entertainment across the U.S. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump fires head of labor statistics bureau after weak jobs report See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump has signed an order for sweeping new tariffs. USA TODAY Senior National Political Correspondent Sarah D. Wire discusses how rural organizers say recent Republican-led cuts could help Democrats win votes. The White House plans to begin construction on a $200 million ballroom. USA TODAY National Correspondent Trevor Hughes explains major changes coming homeless services. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Across the country, Americans are in need of affordable housing. In California, the crisis is particularly acute. Could California's repeal of 70-year-old housing regulations spur much-needed development? Ben Metcalf, managing director of the Turner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley, joined The Excerpt to discuss the housing crisis in his state and beyond, and whether politicians are ready to face the challenge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that the U.S. will set a 15% tariff on South Korean imports under a new deal ahead of a Friday deadline. Plus, the U.S. will add a 25% tariff to Indian imports. USA TODAY Education Reporter Zachary Schermele takes a look at Brown University's deal with the Trump administration to restore funding. Kamala Harris says she won't run for California governor. USA TODAY Money Reporter Rachel Barber talks about how Gen Z is responding to a tough job market with gig work and entrepreneurship. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Law enforcement officers working in plain clothes or undercover is nothing new. What is new is that some officers are now hiding their faces behind masks and refusing to show identification. Following a surge in arrests by armed, masked federal immigration agents in unmarked cars, some California Democrats are backing a new bill in Congress that would bar officials from covering their faces while conducting raids unless the masks were required for their safety or their health. What’s led to the rise of masked policing? And is this what law enforcement should look like in a democracy? Former FBI agent Mike German, a fellow at the Brennan Center for Justice, joins USA TODAY’s The Excerpt to dig into those questions and more. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tsunami waves reach Hawaii and West Coast hours after magnitude 8.8 earthquake See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are major international starvation concerns in Gaza, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is no starvation there. A gunman killed four people, and then himself at a prominent Midtown Manhattan skyscraper on Monday. President Trump sets a new deadline of 10 or 12 days for Russia to end its war in Ukraine. A federal judge has blocked enforcement of a provision in Trump's tax and spending bill that would deprive Planned Parenthood and its members of Medicaid funding. USA TODAY Domestic Security Correspondent Josh Meyer breaks down President Trump's comments about being 'allowed' to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell. USA TODAY Chief Political Correspondent Phillip M. Bailey takes a look at some upcoming governor's races and why they will be major referendums on Trump vs. Democrats. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The U.S. has reached a trade deal with the European Union after President Donald Trump's weekend trip to Scotland. USA TODAY National Correspondent Chris Kenning talks about his reporting on farmers facing a fork amid the immigration crackdown. Israel pauses some military action in Gaza amid ongoing starvation concerns. USA TODAY National Correspondent Deborah Barfield Berry discusses a bipartisan push for a new women's history museum. Please let us know what you think of this episode by sending a note to podcasts@usatoday.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.